Men's and women's football: a game of two halves
Biggest earners
According to France Football magazine's list of the top earners, David Beckham earned $42.7m (£26m) in 2008 thanks to his contract with LA Galaxy and commercial deals. Kelly Smith (right), considered the outstanding female player of her generation and compared to Zinedine Zidane, plays for the Boston Breakers in the Women's Professional Soccer league, where a salary cap limits the average wage to $32,000 over seven months.
Cars
England captain John Terry drives a £110,000 Bentley Continental; winger Sue Smith, of Leeds Carnegie andEngland, drives a Mini Cooper.
Wags and Habs
Victoria Beckham, Coleen Rooney and Cheryl Cole may be household names, but having a partner who plays for the women's team opens fewer doors. Goalkeeper Rachel Brown's boyfriend, Ian Finnis, is a professional golfer, but that's as high profile as it gets. Katie Chapman said the support of her fiancé Mark, who works for EDF Energy, was vital as she juggled motherhood with football.
Endorsements
Smith has a boot deal with Umbro, which includes Beckham-style personalised stitching, but her earnings do not compare.
TV
The likes of Alan Shearer and Jamie Redknapp have followed the lucrative path from pitch to punditry. Smith has come closest to following, working for the BBC and Sky Sports.